Development of the Vertebral Column and Caudal Skeleton in Prochilodus lineatus Larvae under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

SUMMARY:For successful fish larviculture thorough studies describing the development of fish in different morphological aspects are required, as they are crucial for larval survival and growth. The present study described in Prochilodus lineatus larvae the osteological development of the vertebral column and caudal skeleton 30 days after hatching (dah). Larvae were obtained by artificial induction of adults. The beginning of formation of the spine occurs between 10 to 12 dah (8.3 mm standard length, SL) simultaneously to the first neural and hemal processes and the pre-caudal vertebral bodies. The ossification of the vertebral column occurred in craniocaudal direction and was completed at 28 dah (22.6 mm SL). The development of the caudal skeleton elements started between 6 and 8 dah with the formation of the hypurals (H), the parahipural (PH) and the primary and secondary caudal rays. H 1 to H 3 were formed as cartilaginous primordia on the ventral side of the distal portion of the notochord, while the PH and H 4 to H 6 were formed subsequently. The first rays of the caudal fin were observed in correspondence with the formation of H 2 and H 3, while complete formation of the caudal fin was observed at 28 dah. The epurals, three in number, were evident as cartilaginous elements located both dorsal and distal in the notochord. Central ural complex (CUC) was formed by the fusion of three structures, the center preural 1 and urals 1 and 2. Development of the vertebral column and the caudal skeleton in P. lineatus larvae showed similar patterns to those described for other teleosts.

Ontogeny of skeletal ossification in Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822) using differential fluorescence staining technique

“…In this study, the red fluorescence emission of the calcium‐binding fluorescent dye Alizarin (1,2‐dihydroxyanthraquinone), when excited with green light, was used in imaging the early and late stages of skeletal ossification in L. calbasu . The skeletal ontology of L. calbasu corroborated with other teleost fishes like Prochilodus lineatus (Hernández et al ., 2016), Sebastes koreanus (Yu & Kim, 2016) and Danio rerio (Bensimon‐Brito et al ., 2016). The ossification of cranial bones and vertebral column started on 2 and 6 dph, respectively, and completed between15 and 20 dph with the complete development of the caudal skeleton.…”

Development and malformations of the vertebra in the early stages of starry flounder Platichthys stellatus

“…In some fish, skeletal development starts well before hatching (Postlethwait et al, 2016), whereas there is not one osteological element to exist at hatching in P . stellatus and other fish (Hernández et al, 2016). The previous studies have indicated that there are differences between species in skeletal development.…”

Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) alters cortisol response after air exposure inProchilodus lineatus(Valenciennes) larvae fed on enrichedArtemia

“…In this water condition, the complete yolk sac absorption occurs when larva reaches an average standard length (SL) of 5.95 mm (4th DPH), notochord preflexion stage starts around 5.3 mm SL (4th DPH) and flexion occurs with approximately 8.25 mm SL (15th DPH). At the end of the experiment, most of the larvae were in flexion stage; therefore, metamorphosis was not completed (detailed information on larval development of curimba and other closely related Prochilodus genus species can be found in Souza, Melo, Caramaschi, Andrade, & Monteiro, ; Hernández, Olivera, Santinón, Diaz, & Sánchez, and Santos, Sales, Santos, Arantes, & Godinho, ).…”

“…At the end of the experiment, most of the larvae were in flexion stage; therefore, metamorphosis was not completed (detailed information on larval development of curimba and other closely related Prochilodus genus species can be found in Souza, Melo, Caramaschi, Andrade, & Monteiro, 2016;Hernández, Olivera, Santinón, Diaz, &Sánchez, 2016 andSantos, Sales, Santos, Arantes, &Godinho, 2016).…”